Fertilizer absorption accelerator composition and fertilizer composition

ABSTRACT

A fertilizer absorption accelerator composition is provided which is capable of accelerating the absorption in a plant of such fertilizer components as calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The composition is obtained by combining a fertilizer component with a surfactant and a heptonic acid or a salt thereof and is applied to the plant as sprayed to the surface of leaves thereof.

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of prior PCTInternational Application No. PCT/JP97/02786 which has an Internationalfiling date of Aug. 8, 1997 which designated the United States ofAmerica, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a fertilizer absorption accelerator and afertilizer composition and more particularly to a fertilizer absorptionaccelerator composition which is added to a fertilizer adapted for useon plants by application to or spray on roots, stems, leaves, or fruitsthereof for the purpose of preventing the plants from developingphysiological lesions due to nutrient deficiency.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known that plants require various nutrient elements for theirgrowth and that they suffer obstruction of growth when they are notsupplied sufficiently with nutrient elements. As respects the threemajor elements of fertilizer, for example, nitrogen forms a componentelement of proteins, phosphorus not only constitutes itself a componentelement of nucleic acids and phospholipids but also fulfills animportant role in the energy metabolism and the reactions for synthesisand decomposition of substances, and potassium discharges physiologicalfunctions of mass metabolism and mass transfer. Insufficient supply ofthese main components generally renders the growth of plants inferior.Calcium is an important component for the constitution of plantsthemselves and cells thereof and plays the important role of balancingthe metabolic system. It is, however, prone to assume the symptom ofdeficiency and induce such phenomena as, for example, tip rot intomatoes, core rot in white rapes and cabbages, bitter pit in apples,and tip burn in strawberries.

Since these elements are not always present copiously in the soil,various kinds of fertilizer are used in the soil to ensure sufficientsupply of nutrient elements. When the soil is deficient in nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium, for example, the practice of incorporating achemical fertilizer into the soil is followed.

As respects the physiological obstacle due to deficiency in calcium, thepractice of precluding the calcium deficiency by incorporating lime orother calcium source into the soil has been often tried. More often thannot, however, the calcium thus supplied is not thoroughly absorbed intothe plants because part of the calcium reacts with the carbon dioxide inthe air and escapes ultimately in the form of calcium carbonate into theunderground, because the calcium reacts with other incorporated chemicalfertilizer and consequently incurs inactivation, and because theincorporation of the chemical fertilizer and that of the calciumcomponent are not well balanced. Even when the calcium is absorbedsomehow or other through the root of a plant, it often fails to reachthe site at which the physiological lesion actually develops becausethis element incurs unusual difficulty in migrating inside the system ofa plant. When it reaches the site at all, it takes a considerable amountof time to do so and it fails to manifest an immediate effect on thelesion.

In recent years, therefore, it is tried to avoid a plant from aphysiological lesion due to deficiency in calcium by directly spraying acalcium fertilizer in the form of an aqueous solution to leaves andfruits of the plant, which will easily suffer from such a lesion (theso-called foliage spray).

As compounds which are intended for use in such calcium fertilizers asutilize the technique of foliage spray mentioned above, suchwater-soluble calcium salts as calcium formate (JP-A-59-137,384),calcium acetate (JP-A-60-260,487), and calcium propionate (JapanesePatent Application No. 04-202,080) have been known. The calciumfertilizer including a calcium salt of high solubility and a calciumsalt of low solubility in combination has been also known in JP-A7-10666.

The direct spray of the aqueous solution of a calcium salt, however, hasthe problem of poor efficiency of absorption because the degree withwhich calcium is absorbed into the plant through the leaves and thefruits thereof is generally low. Further, an effort to spray suchexcessive fertilizer components as N, P, K, and calcium with a view toheightening the ratio of absorption ironically results in impartingstress to the plant and causes toxicity to the plant. The desirabilityof developing a measure for enabling a plant to attain efficientabsorption of calcium and various other fertilizer components,therefore, has been finding widespread acceptance.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Summary of the Invention

The present inventors have made a diligent study with a view to solvingthe problems mentioned above. They have consequently found that thecombination of a surfactant with a heptonic acid or a salt thereofallows a plant to attain efficient absorption of fertilizer componentsand that a fertilizer composition containing a surfactant in combinationwith a heptonic acid or a salt thereof, when sprayed to the roots or theleaves of the plant, enables the plant to absorb the nutrientefficiently. The present invention has been perfected as a result.

Specifically, this invention aims to provide a fertilizer absorptionaccelerator composition characterized by containing a surfactant and aheptonic acid or a salt thereof as essential components thereof. Thisinvention also aims to provide a fertilizer composition characterized bycomprising a fertilizer component and the fertilizer absorptionaccelerator composition mentioned above.

Further, this invention aims to provide a method for accelerating thegrowth of a plant by supplying to the plant an aqueous solution, aqueousdispersion, or emulsion containing a fertilizer component, a surfactant,and a heptonic acid or a salt thereof.

This invention also aims to provide a method for accelerating the growthof a plant by supplying to the plant an aqueous solution, aqueousdispersion, or emulsion containing a surfactant and a heptonic acid or asalt thereof in concert with a fertilizer component.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The following surfactants are effectively usable in the presentinvention.

As concrete examples of the nonionic surfactant, sorbitan fatty acidesters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylenefatty acid esters, glycerin fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene glycerinfatty acid esters, polyglycerin fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylenepolyglycerin fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, resin acidesters, polyoxyalkylene resin acid esters, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers,polyoxyalkylene alkylphenyl ethers, alkyl (poly)glucoside, andpolyoxyalkylene alkyl (poly)glucoside may be cited.

As concrete examples of the anionic surfactant, carboxylic acid type,sulfonic acid type, sulfuric acid ester type, and phosphoric acid estertype surfactants may be cited.

As concrete examples of the carboxylic acid type surfactants, fattyacids of 6-30 carbon atoms or salts thereof, polycarboxylic acids orsalts thereof, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acids or saltsthereof, polyoxyalkylene alkyl amide carboxylic acids or salts thereof,rhodinic acids or salts thereof, dimer acids or salts thereof, polymeracids or salts thereof, tall oil fatty acids or salts thereof may becited.

As concrete examples of the sulfonic acid type surfactants, alkylbenzenesulfonic acids or salts thereof, alkyl sulfonic acids or saltsthereof, alkyl naphthalenesulfonic acids or salts thereof,naphthalenesulfonic acids or salts thereof, diphenyl ether sulfonicacids or salts thereof, condensates of alkyl naphthalenesulfonic acidsor salts thereof, and condensates of naphthalenesulfonic acids or saltsthereof may be cited.

As concrete examples of the sulfuric acid ester type surfactants, alkylsulfuric acid esters or salts thereof, polyoxyalkylene alkyl sulfuricacid esters or salts thereof, polyoxyalkylene alkylphenyl ether sulfuricacids or salts thereof, tristyrenated phenol sulfuric acid esters orsalts thereof, and polyoxyalkylene distyrenated phenol sulfuric acidesters or salts thereof may be cited.

As concrete examples of the phosphoric acid ester type surfactants,alkyl phosphoric esters or salts thereof, alkyl phenyl phosphoric acidesters or salts thereof, polyoxyalkylene alkyl phosphoric acid esters orsalts thereof, and polyoxy-alkylene alkylphenyl phosphoric acid estersor salts thereof may be cited.

The salts of these compounds include metal salts (such as Na, K, Ca, Mg,and Zn), ammonium salts, alkanol amine salts, and fatty acid aminesalts, for example.

The amphoteric surfactants include amino acid type, betaine type,imidazoline type, and amine oxide type surfactants, for example.

The amino acid type surfactants include acylamino acid salts, acylsarcosinic acid salts, acyloyl methylamino propionic acid salts,alkylaminopropionic acid salts, and acylamide ethyl hydroxyethylmethylcarboxylic acid salts, for example.

The betaine type surfactants include alkyl dimethyl betaine, alkylhydroxyethyl betaine, acylamide propyl hydroxypropyl ammoniasulfobetaine, and ricinoleic acid amide propyl dimethyl carboxymethylammonia betaine, for example.

The imidazoline type surfactants include alkyl carboxymethylhydroxyethyl imidazolinium betaine and alkyl ethoxycarboxymethylimidazolinium betaine, for example.

The amine oxide type surfactants include alkyl dimethylamine oxides,alkyl diethanolamine oxides, and alkyl amide propylamine oxides, forexample.

The surfactants cited above may be used either singly or in the form ofa mixture of two or more members. When any of the surfactants mentionedabove contains a polyoxyalkylene group, this group is preferred to be apolyoxyethylene group and the average number addition mols thereof ispreferred to be in the range of 1-50.

As concrete examples of the heptonic acid or the salt thereof to be usedeffectively in this invention, glucoheptonic acid, mannoheptonic acid,and galaheptonic acid, and potassium salts, sodium salts, calcium salts,alkanol amine salts, and aliphatic amine salts thereof may be cited. Asa preferred example thereof, sodium glucoheptonate may be cited. Whileheptonic acids are known in isomers, they may be α-isomers or β-isomers,whichever better suit occasion.

The fertilizer absorption accelerator composition of this inventioncontains the surfactant and the heptonic acid or salt thereof mentionedabove as essential components thereof and water as the balance and, whennecessary, further contains a solvent as an arbitrary component thereof.

The fertilizer composition of this invention contains the surfactant andthe heptonic acid or a salt thereof mentioned above and further containsa fertilizer component. As concrete examples of the fertilizercomponent, inorganic substances or organic substances which contain suchelements as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl, Si, and Namay be cited. Among other substances mentioned above, compoundscontaining Ca prove to be particularly preferable. As concrete examplesof the calcium compound effectively usable in the calcium fertilizercomposition, inorganic calcium salts such as calcium chloride, calciumnitrate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, quick lime, and slaked limeand calcium salts of such organic acids as acetic acid, formic acid,oxalic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid, citric acid,tartaric acid, malic acid, heptonic acid, gluconic acid, glycine, adipicacid, and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid may be cited. These calciumcompounds may be used either singly or in the form of a mixture of twoor more members. Preferably, one calcium compound or a mixture of twocalcium compounds is used.

In this invention, though the proportions of the surfactant, theheptonic acid or salt thereof, and the fertilizer component to be mixedcan be varied when necessary, the proportion of the surfactant is in therange of 0.1-30 parts by weight, that of the heptonic acid or a saltthereof in the range of 0.01-20 parts by weight, and that of thefertilizer component in the range of 1-60 parts by weight generally inthe ultimately formed fertilizer composition which additionally containswater and/or a solvent as occasion demands.

The fertilizer composition of this invention may be in the form ofsolution, flowable powder, wettable powder, granules, or dust.Generally, it is diluted to 50-1000 times the original volume andsprayed in the form of aqueous solution, aqueous dispersion, or emulsionon the leaves or roots of a plant. A liquid preparation of thecomposition containing 5-20 wt. % of the surfactant, 0.5-10 wt. % of theheptonic acid or a salt thereof, and 10-60 wt % of the fertilizercomponent in water as the medium proves to be particularly preferable.

Various means can be used for the supply of the fertilizer compositionof this invention to a plant. As concrete examples of the effectivemethod of supply, the direct spray of a diluted aqueous solution of thecomposition on the leaves, stems, and fruits of a plant, the injectionof the aqueous solution into the soil, the water culture, thecirculation of the aqueous solution past such absorbent as rock woolwhich is held in direct contact with the roots of a plant, and thecontinuous addition of the diluted solution to the feed water to a plantmay be cited.

The fertilizer absorption accelerator composition and the fertilizercomposition of this invention can be used as sprayed on various farmproduces because they cause no toxic damage to plants and enable plantsto absorb efficiently therein calcium and other fertilizer components.

EXAMPLES

Now, this invention will be described below with reference to examples.It should be noted, however, that this invention is not limited to theseexamples.

Examples of Formulation

The product (1) of this invention was typically formulated as follows.The other products (2)-(6) of this Invention were prepared by followingthe same procedure.

In a proper amount of tap water, CaCl₂.2H₂O as a calcium source wasdissolved in an amount calculated to account for a final concentrationof 40 wt. % and sodium α-glucoheptonate (manufactured by Croda Japan) inan amount calculated to account for a final concentration of 10 wt. % inthe formed preparation. The resultant aqueous solution was adjusted witha 0.1N hydrochloric acid to pH 7.0. In this solution, a polyoxyethylene(average number of addition mols=20) sorbitan oleic acid ester (producedby Kao Corporation and marketed under trademark designation of “RheodolTW-0 120”), a nonionic surfactant, was dissolved in an amount calculatedto account for a final concentration of 10 wt. % in the preparation andtap water was added to a prescribed total volume. The product was aweakly yellow transparent aqueous solution.

For comparison, a comparative product (7) formed of CaCl₂.2H₂O andsodium α-glucoheptonate, a comparative product (8) formed solely ofCaCl₂.2H₂O, a comparative product (9) formed of CaCl₂.2H₂O and sodiumgluconate, a comparative product (10) formed of CaCl₂.2H₂O and sodiumascorbate, a comparative product (11) formed of CaCl₂.2H₂O and thenonionic surfactant mentioned above, and a comparative product (12)formed of calcium formate powder were used in the experiment.

The formulas of these calcium preparations are shown Table 1.

TABLE 1 Preparation Proportions of No. Raw materials used in compositionmixture (%) Product of the invention (1) CaCl₂.2H₂O 40 Sodiumα-heptonate 10 POE(20) sorbitan monooleate 10 (2) CaCl₂.2H₂O 40 Sodiumα-heptonate  5 POE(25) hardened castor oil 10 (3) CaCl₂.2H₂O 40 Sodiumα-heptonate 10 POE(15) glycerin beef tallow fatty 20 acid ester (4)CaCl₂.2H₂O 40 Sodium α-heptonate  5 PEO(3) sodium salt of laurylsulfuric  5 acid ester (5) Ca(NO₃).4H₂O 40 Sodium α-heptonate 20 Lauryldimethyl amine oxide  5 (6) Calcium formate 40 Sodium α-heptonate 10Polyglycerin monooleate (degree of 20 condensation 5) Comparativeproduct (7) CaCl₂.2H₂O 40 Sodium α-heptonate 10 (8) CaCl₂.2H₂O 40 (9)CaCl₂.2H₂O 40 Sodium gluconate 10 (10)  CaCl₂.2H₂O 40 Sodium ascorbate10 (11)  CaCl₂.2H₂O 40 POE(20) sorbitan monooleate 10 (12)  Calciumformate 40

Water was used for the balances of the formulations.

(Note) The symbol POE in the table stands for polyoxy ethylene and theparenthesized numerals following the POE represent the average numbersof addition mols of ethylene oxide.

Example 1 Trial Supply of Calcium to Leaves of White Rapes

Seeds of white rape (produced by Takii Shubyo K.K. and marketed undertrademark designation of “Muso”) were procured and sown in pots, 11 cmin diameter. The amount of a fertilizer to be applied was set at thisratio of components, N:P₂O₅:K₂O=0.2:0.2:0.2 kg/m³. The calciumpreparations obtained by the formulations shown above were each sprayedfour times one week apart after the second leaves had begun to develop.For this use, the preparations were each diluted to 200 times theoriginal volume. The application rate was about 20 ml per plant whichwas enough to wet the leaves thereof sufficiently. At the end of thefinal round of the spraying, the second leaves were collected, given athorough wash on the surface, dried, and heat-treated with 3Nhydrochloric acid to extract Ca. The extract was assayed by the ICP(Inductively coupled argon plasma emission analysis). The Caconcentrations in the leaves of white rape per gram of dry weight wereas shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Ca Concentration preparation of Ca in leaves* No. (%) Product of(1) 3.85 the invention (2) 3.80 (3) 3.78 (4) 3.84 (5) 3.80 (6) 3.85Comparative (7) 3.29 product (8) 3.15 (9) 3.49 (10)  3.44 (11)  3.41(12)  3.23 Control Aqueous 2.81 dispersion system *Concentration pergram of dry weight of white rape

It is noted from the results that the combination of a surfactant withsodium heptonate according to this invention notably accelerated theincorporation of Ca into white rapes as compared with variouscomparative products. This effect of the acceleration was conspicuouslyhigher than sodium gluconate or sodium ascorbate.

Example 2 Trial Foliage Spray of Calcium to Calcium-deficient Soybeans

Seeds of soybean (produced by Takii Shubyo K.K. and marketed undertrademark designation of “Yukimusume”) were sown in a bed ofvermiculite. The young seedlings issuing 10 days thereafter weresubjected to water culture in an artificial acclimatizer. The waterculture was performed in an Erlenmeyer flask, 500 ml in inner volume,under the conditions of 23° C. and 10,000 luxes, with the seedlingsaerated with the aid of an air pump. For the water culture, the Jacobsonculture medium of the composition shown in Table 3 was used and the Cadeficiency was induced by using sodium nitrate in the place of calciumnitrate. The various Ca preparations obtained by the formulationsmentioned above were each sprayed three times four days apart after thestart of the water culture. The application was performed by diluting agiven preparation to 200 times and spraying the diluted solution to theplants at the foliage advertently lest the spray should come to thewater of irrigation. The amount of foliage spray was about 10 ml perplant which was enough to wet the leaves thereof thoroughly. The wholesoybeans in growth on plants were measured for wet weight to rate theavoidance of calcium deficiency relatively. The soybeans were separatelycultured in a culture medium (Table 3) not suffering from calciumdeficiency (standard water culture). The results of this standard waterculture were compared in effect of foliage spray with those of thepreparations applied to the soybeans suffering from calcium deficiency.The results of this comparison are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 3 Jacobson culture medium for slop Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O 708 ppm KNO₃ 303ppm MgSO₄.7H₂O 493 ppm KH₂PO₄ 272 ppm FeCl₃ 5 ppm Tartaric acid 5 ppmH₃BO₃ 2.5 ppm CuCl₂.2H₂O 0.05 ppm MnCl₂.4H₂O 1.5 ppm Na₂MoO₄.2H₂O 0.025ppm ZnCl₂ 0.1 ppm

TABLE 4 Ca preparation No. Wet weight of soybean (%) Product of (1)12.41 the invention (2) 12.33 (3) 12.10 (4) 12.44 (5) 12.35 (6) 12.56Comparative (7)  8.70 product (8)  7.15 (9) 10.18 (10)  10.00 (11)  9.34 (12)   8.28 Control Aqueous dispersion  3.50 system Standard waterculture 13.68

It is noted from the above that soybean was produced by the invention inthe same weight as normal cultivation. Then the invention is capable ofeffectively avoiding Ca deficiency. The results of this avoidance werenotably better than sodium gluconate or sodium ascorbate.

Example 3 Test for Effect of Incorporation of Ca Into Tomato Fruits

The species of tomato called “House Momotaro” was used. About one monthafter the seeds had been sown, seedlings each bearing 12 developedleaves were permanently planted. They were subjected to foliage spray ofcalcium 27 days and 36 days after the planting. The various Capreparations obtained by the formulations mentioned above were used asdiluted to 200 times the original volume and applied to the second fruitclusters and the upper and lower leaves of fruits in an amount of 100 mlenough to wet the plants thoroughly. The second fruit clusters wereharvested about 35 days after the second round of spraying, given a washon the surface with water, and heat-treated with 3N hydrochloric acid toextract Ca. The extract was assayed for Ca content by the ICP. Theresults were as shown in Table 5.

It is clearly noted from the results that the combination of asurfactant with sodium heptonate according to this invention notablyaccelerated the absorption of Ca into tomato fruits as compared with thecomparative products. This effect of acceleration was notably high ascompared with the products formed solely of Ca sources, the productformed solely of a surfactant, and the combinations using sodiumgluconate and sodium ascorbate.

TABLE 5 Ca preparation No. Concentration of Ca in fruits* (%) Product of(1) 0.135 the invention (2) 0.130 (3) 0.124 (4) 0.136 (5) 0.132 (6)0.135 Comparative (7) 0.084 product (8) 0.066 (9) 0.105 (10)  0.100(11)  0.096 (12)  0.077 Control Aqueous dispersion 0.034 system*Concentration per gram of wet weight of tomato fruits

What is claimed is:
 1. A calcium fertilizer absorption acceleratorcomposition comprising a surfactant and a heptonic acid or a saltthereof as essential components thereof, wherein said heptonic acid or asalt thereof is selected from the group consisting of glucoheptonicacid, mannoheptonic acid, and galaheptonic acid and potassium salts,sodium salts, alkanol amine salts, and aliphatic amine salts of saidacids.
 2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said surfactantcontains at least one member selected from the group consisting ofnonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants.3. A calcium fertilizer composition comprising a fertilizer component, asurfactant, and a heptonic acid or a salt thereof as essentialcomponents thereof.
 4. A composition according to claim 3, wherein saidsurfactant contains at least one member selected from the groupconsisting of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and amphotericsurfactants.
 5. A composition according to claim 3, wherein saidfertilizer component is an inorganic calcium salt selected from thegroup consisting of calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, calciumcarbonate, calcium sulfate, quick lime, and slaked lime or the calciumsalt of an organic acid selected from among formic acid, oxalic acid,acetic acid, lactic acid, gluclic acid, succinic acid, citric acid,tartaric acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, heptonic acid, adipic acid,glycine, and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid.
 6. A compositionaccording to claim 3, which is in the form of solution, flowable powder,wettable powder, granules, or dust.
 7. A composition according to claim3, wherein said heptonic acid or a salt thereof is selected from thegroup consisting of glucoheptonic acid, mannoheptonic acid, andgalaheptonic acid and potassium salts, sodium salts, alkanol aminesalts, and aliphatic amine salts of said acids.
 8. A compositionaccording to claim 3, comprising a calcium fertilizer component, asurfactant and a heptonic sodium salt.
 9. A method for accelerating thegrowth of a plant by supplying to the plant an aqueous solution, aqueousdispersion, or emulsion containing a calcium fertilizer component, asurfactant, and a heptonic acid or a salt thereof.
 10. A methodaccording to claim 9, wherein said supply is effected by spraying thepreparation on the surface of leaves of said plant.
 11. A methodaccording to claim 9, wherein said heptonic acid or a salt thereof isselected from the group consisting of glucoheptonic acid, mannoheptonicacid, and galaheptonic acid and potassium salts, sodium salts, alkanolamine salts, and aliphatic amine salts of said acids.
 12. A method foraccelerating the absorption of a calcium fertilizer component into aplant by supplying to said plant an aqueous solution, aqueousdispersion, or emulsion containing a surfactant and a heptonic acid or asalt thereof in concert with said fertilizer component.
 13. A methodaccording to claim 12, wherein said heptonic acid or a salt thereof isselected from the group consisting of glucoheptonic acid, mannoheptonicacid, and galaheptonic acid and potassium salts, sodium salts, alkanolamine salts, and aliphatic amine salts of said acids.
 14. A calciumfertilizer absorption accelerator composition comprising a surfactantand a heptonic acid or a salt thereof as essential components thereof,wherein said heptonic acid or a salt thereof is selected from the groupconsisting of: (a) mannoheptonic acid, and galaheptonic acid andpotassium salts, sodium salts, alkanol amine salts, and aliphatic aminesalts of said acids, and (b) glucoheptonic acid and potassium salts,alkanol amine salts, and aliphatic amine salts of said acids.
 15. Acalcium fertilizer absorption accelerator composition comprising asurfactant and sodium glucoheptonate as essential components thereof.16. A calcium fertilizer composition comprising 1-60 parts by weight ofa fertilizer component, 0.1-30 parts by weight of a surfactant, and0.01-20 parts by weight of a heptonic acid or a salt thereof asessential components thereof.
 17. A method for accelerating the growthof a plant by supplying to the plant an aqueous solution, aqueousdispersion, or emulsion containing a calcium fertilizer component, asurfactant, and a heptonic acid or a salt thereof; wherein said aqueoussolution, aqueous dispersion or emulsion results from diluting saidfertilizer component, said surfactant, and said heptonic acid or saltthereof to 50-1000 times the original volume.
 18. A method foraccelerating the growth of a plant by supplying to the plant an aqueoussolution, aqueous dispersion, or emulsion containing a calciumfertilizer, a surfactant, and a heptonic acid or a sodium salt thereof.19. A method for accelerating the absorption of a calcium fertilizerinto a plant by supplying to said plant an aqueous solution, aqueousdispersion, or emulsion containing a surfactant and a heptonic acid or asodium salt thereof in concert with said fertilizer component.
 20. Acalcium fertilizer absorption accelerator composition comprising asurfactant and a heptonic sodium salt as essential components thereof.